Editorial

So the news that there is more to come is going to go down like a free holiday in Baghdad for many installers. ACPO 2000, DD243, EN 5013-1, JIB site rules ... and if you've got any spare time left after IP seminars and courses (and let's not forget the occasional job or two if you can squeeze it in), you had better get your head around incoming changes to the building regs. The proposal is to add the wiring regs (BS7671) on to the building regs to make it "Part P".

The legislation covering fused spurs is being introduced because of an increase in deaths in the home due to badly designed electrical installations. So it can be a matter of life or death, and could, of course, end in an incompetent installer being jailed or heavily fined. Mike Lynskey says what he thinks about it on page 13 but a subject like this needs more than comment and opinion (interesting as yours are Mike!) ... So next month Gerard Honey – well known for his excellent training books – will be giving full technical details of exactly what mains compliance means to installers. Don't miss it.

On the subject of seminars, BT redcare, with the SSAIB, is putting on a series of events across the country to prepare installers for the impact of the new Euro standards. The aim is to make sure engineers understand what is required under the EN50131 standard for intruder alarms which comes into play this month (although British Standards will still be running in parallel for a year). See page 8 for details and if you are interested in attending get your request in as quickly as possible by emailing redcare@bt.com because the seminars do fill up fast.

Inserted into this month's Installer is our entry form for the Security Excellence Awards 2004, the Oscars of the security industry and a night that guests don't forget in a hurry. Who could forget our Bond dancing girls in 2002 or humiliating magic tricks in 2003? But although the night is packed full of fun and frolics, it has the serious purpose of honouring those who have shown excellence. So, if you dream of glory under the spotlights ... or if you'd just enjoy a great night out in London, fill in the entry form or see page 58 for tickets.

Following Mike's reminiscences in his column last month about those old disc diallers, I was contacted by a company who'd just found one of these rare old units while fitting new kit into some Victorian shops in Ilford, Essex ... and there it was on the wall in a dusty storeroom. If anyone would like, basically, a "big metal box" that's a part of security's heritage ring Advance Security Electronics, Harlow, on 08701 651999 (you can collect or pay the carriage).

Finally, manufacturers ... get your IFSEC 2004 product launches and news to us as soon as possible ... because, very soon, we'll be compiling our BIG show supplement for our May edition.